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Basilosauridae
Taxonomy
Basilosauridae was named by Cope (1867). It was considered paraphyletic by Uhen and Gingerich (2001), Uhen (2004) and Uhen (2008) and Martinez-Cáceres and Muizon (2011).
It was synonymized subjectively with Zeuglodontidae by Mchedlidze (1970).
It was assigned to Zeuglodontia by Gill (1871), Gill (1872) and Gill (1873); to Zeuglodontes by Hay (1902); to Zeuglodonta by Trouessart (1904); to Zeuglodontes by Hay (1930); to Cetacea by Sherman (1952) and Thewissen et al. (2001); to Cetacea by van Vliet (2004); to Archaeoceti by Bouetel and Muizon (2006); to Archaeoceti by Miller (1923), Kellogg (1928), Kellogg (1936), Simpson (1945), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Barnes et al. (1985), Hooker (1986), Carroll (1988), Benton (1993), Fordyce and Barnes (1994), Fordyce et al. (1995), Uhen (1996), Kohler and Fordyce (1997), McKenna and Bell (1997), Bergqvist et al. (1999), Uhen and Gingerich (2001), Fordyce and de Muizon (2001), Rice (2002), Fordyce (2003), Geisler and Sanders (2003), Uhen (2004), Gingerich (2007), McLeod and Barnes (2008), Uhen (2008), Fordyce and Roberts (2009), Fitzgerald (2010), Gingerich (2012), Gingerich and Zouhri (2015), Gingerich (2015) and Gao and Ni (2015); to Basilosauroidea by Rice (1998), Gingerich (2005), Rice (2009), El-kheir et al. (2013) and Mahdy et al. (2019); to Archaeoceti by Bianucci and Landini (2007) and Gingerich et al. (2022); and to Pelagiceti by Uhen (2008), Uhen (2010), Martinez-Cáceres and Muizon (2011), Uhen et al. (2011), Uhen (2013), Goldin et al. (2014), Marx et al. (2016), Buono et al. (2016), Berta (2017), Martínez-Cáceres et al. (2017), Smith et al. (2021), Antar et al. (2023), Bianucci et al. (2023), van Vliet et al. (2023) and van Vliet et al. (2024).
It was synonymized subjectively with Zeuglodontidae by Mchedlidze (1970).
It was assigned to Zeuglodontia by Gill (1871), Gill (1872) and Gill (1873); to Zeuglodontes by Hay (1902); to Zeuglodonta by Trouessart (1904); to Zeuglodontes by Hay (1930); to Cetacea by Sherman (1952) and Thewissen et al. (2001); to Cetacea by van Vliet (2004); to Archaeoceti by Bouetel and Muizon (2006); to Archaeoceti by Miller (1923), Kellogg (1928), Kellogg (1936), Simpson (1945), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Barnes et al. (1985), Hooker (1986), Carroll (1988), Benton (1993), Fordyce and Barnes (1994), Fordyce et al. (1995), Uhen (1996), Kohler and Fordyce (1997), McKenna and Bell (1997), Bergqvist et al. (1999), Uhen and Gingerich (2001), Fordyce and de Muizon (2001), Rice (2002), Fordyce (2003), Geisler and Sanders (2003), Uhen (2004), Gingerich (2007), McLeod and Barnes (2008), Uhen (2008), Fordyce and Roberts (2009), Fitzgerald (2010), Gingerich (2012), Gingerich and Zouhri (2015), Gingerich (2015) and Gao and Ni (2015); to Basilosauroidea by Rice (1998), Gingerich (2005), Rice (2009), El-kheir et al. (2013) and Mahdy et al. (2019); to Archaeoceti by Bianucci and Landini (2007) and Gingerich et al. (2022); and to Pelagiceti by Uhen (2008), Uhen (2010), Martinez-Cáceres and Muizon (2011), Uhen et al. (2011), Uhen (2013), Goldin et al. (2014), Marx et al. (2016), Buono et al. (2016), Berta (2017), Martínez-Cáceres et al. (2017), Smith et al. (2021), Antar et al. (2023), Bianucci et al. (2023), van Vliet et al. (2023) and van Vliet et al. (2024).
Subtaxa
Ancalecetus, Balaenoptera juddi, Basilosaurinae (syn. Zeuglodontinae), Basilosaurus (syn. Zugodon, Hydrargos, Hydrarchos, Hydrarchus, Alabamornis, Zygodon, Zeuglodon), Basiloterus, Chrysocetus, Cynthiacetus, Dorudon (syn. Prozeuglodon), Dorudontinae, Masracetus, Ocucajea, Pachycetinae, Pachycetus humilis, Perucetus, Pontogeneus, Pontogeneus brachyspondylus, Saghacetus, Stromeriinae, Stromerius, Sulaimanitherium, Supayacetus, Tutcetus, Zygorhiza
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
Year | Name and author |
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1849 | Zeuglodontidae Bonaparte p. 618 |
1849 | Zeuglodon brachyspondylus Müller pp. pp. 20-33 |
1850 | Hydrarchidae Bonaparte p. 1 |
1850 | Hydrarchina Bonaparte p. 1 |
1851 | Zeuglodon trachyspondylus Koch p. 57 |
1852 | Pontogeneus Leidy |
1852 | Pontogeneus priscus Leidy p. 52 |
1853 | Zeuglodontae Bronn p. 763 |
1853 | Zeuglodon brachyspondylus Bronn p. 770 |
1854 | Pontogeneus priscus Leidy p. 8 |
1867 | Basilosauridae Cope p. 144 |
1871 | Basilosauridae Gill p. 122 |
1872 | Basilosauridae Gill p. 93 |
1873 | Stegorhinidae Brandt p. 334 |
1873 | Basilosauridae Gill p. 27 |
1874 | Stegorhinidae Brandt p. 50 |
1876 | Zeuglodon wanklyni Seeley |
1881 | Balaenoptera juddi Seeley p. 278 |
1883 | Pachycetus humilis Geinitz p. 105 |
1883 | Pachycetus humilis Van Beneden |
1887 | Balaenoptera juddi Lydekker p. 41 |
1887 | Zeuglodontidae Lydekker p. 49 |
1889 | Zeuglodontidae Cope p. 876 |
1890 | Zeuglodontidae Cope p. 601 |
1890 | Zeuglodon brachyspondylus Cope p. 602 |
1890 | Zeuglodontidae Thompson p. 1 |
1891 | Zeuglodontidae Flower and Lydekker p. 89 |
1894 | Zeuglodontidae Zittel p. 167 |
1894 | Zeuglodon wanklyni Zittel p. 168 |
1898 | Zeuglodontidae Trouessart p. 1009 |
1898 | Zeuglodon brachyspondylus Trouessart p. 1010 |
1898 | Zeuglodon wanklyni Trouessart p. 1010 |
1898 | Balaenoptera juddi Trouessart p. 1077 |
1898 | Pachycetus humilis Trouessart p. 1084 |
1902 | Basilosauridae Hay p. 586 |
1902 | Basilosaurus brachyspondylus Hay p. 586 |
1903 | Zeuglodon wanklyni Stromer p. 87 |
1904 | Zeuglodontidae Case p. 4 |
1904 | Pontogeneus Palmer p. 558 |
1904 | Basilosauridae Trouessart p. 753 |
1904 | Basilosaurus brachyspondylus Trouessart p. 753 |
1904 | Basilosaurus wanklyni Trouessart p. 753 |
1904 | Balaenoptera juddi Trouessart p. 782 |
1904 | Pachycetus humilis Trouessart p. 784 |
1906 | Zeuglodontidae Andrews p. 234 |
1908 | Zeuglodon brachyspondylus Stromer p. 31 |
1908 | Zeuglodontidae Stromer p. 148 |
1914 | Zeuglodon wanklyni Abel p. 220 |
1914 | Zeuglodontidae Abel p. 220 |
1919 | Zeuglodontidae Abel p. 751 |
1921 | Zeuglodontidae Winge p. 7 |
1923 | Dorudontidae Miller |
1923 | Basilosauridae Miller p. 40 |
1923 | Dorudontidae Miller p. 40 |
1925 | Zeuglodontidae Zittel p. 84 |
1925 | Zeuglodon brachyspondylus Zittel p. 85 |
1925 | Zeuglodon wanklyni Zittel p. 85 |
1928 | Basilosauridae Kellogg p. 32 figs. Table 1 |
1928 | Dorudontidae Kellogg p. 32 figs. Table 1 |
1930 | Basilosauridae Hay p. 569 |
1930 | Basilosaurus brachyspondylus Hay p. 570 |
1930 | Dorudontidae Hay p. 657 |
1931 | Zeuglodontidae Van Deinse p. 33 |
1936 | Zygorhiza juddi Kellogg |
1936 | Basilosauridae Kellogg p. 13 |
1936 | Dorudontidae Kellogg p. 100 |
1936 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Kellogg p. 101 |
1936 | Zygorhiza wanklyni Kellogg p. 176 |
1936 | Pontogeneus Kellogg p. 248 |
1936 | Dorudontinae Slijper p. 540 |
1936 | Zeuglodontidae Slijper p. 540 |
1937 | Zeuglodontidae Benham p. 1 |
1940 | Pachycetus humilis Wetmore p. 72 |
1945 | Basilosauridae Simpson p. 100 |
1945 | Dorudontidae Simpson p. 100 |
1952 | Basilosauridae Sherman p. 99 |
1952 | Basilosaurus brachyspondylus Sherman p. 99 |
1954 | Prozeuglodontidae Moustafa p. 87 |
1970 | Zeuglodontidae Mchedlidze p. 50 |
1973 | Dorudontidae Keyes p. 389 |
1977 | Dorudontidae Whitmore and Sanders p. 305 |
1981 | Dorudontidae Thurmond and Jones p. 192 |
1981 | Basilosauridae Thurmond and Jones p. 193 |
1981 | Pontogeneus Thurmond and Jones p. 196 |
1981 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Thurmond and Jones p. 196 |
1982 | Dorudontinae Fordyce p. 422 |
1985 | Basilosauridae Barnes et al. p. 25 |
1985 | Dorudontinae Barnes et al. p. 25 |
1986 | Basilosauridae Hooker p. 214 |
1986 | Dorudontidae Hooker p. 214 |
1986 | Zygorhiza wanklyni Hooker p. 342 |
1986 | Pachycetus humilis Rothausen p. 517 |
1988 | Basilosauridae Carroll |
1988 | Pontogeneus Carroll |
1993 | Basilosauridae Benton p. 761 |
1994 | Basilosauridae Fordyce and Barnes p. 428 figs. Table 1 |
1994 | Dorudontinae Fordyce and Barnes p. 428 |
1995 | Basilosauridae Fordyce et al. p. 379 |
1995 | Dorudontinae Fordyce et al. p. 379 |
1996 | Basilosauridae Uhen p. 39 |
1996 | Dorudontinae Uhen p. 41 |
1997 | Basilosauridae Kohler and Fordyce p. 575 |
1997 | Dorudontinae Kohler and Fordyce p. 575 |
1997 | Basilosauridae McKenna and Bell p. 369 |
1997 | Dorudontidae McKenna and Bell p. 369 |
1997 | Pontogeneus McKenna and Bell p. 369 |
1998 | Basilosauridae Rice |
1998 | Dorudontidae Rice |
1998 | Dorudontinae Uhen p. 34 |
1998 | Pontogeneus Uhen p. 37 |
1998 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Uhen p. 37 |
1999 | Basilosauridae Bergqvist et al. p. 31 |
2001 | Dorudontidae Fordyce and de Muizon p. 104 |
2001 | Basilosauridae Fordyce and de Muizon p. 176 |
2001 | Basilosauridae Thewissen et al. p. 351 figs. Table 1 |
2001 | Basilosauridae Uhen and Gingerich p. 2 |
2001 | Dorudontinae Uhen and Gingerich p. 2 |
2002 | Basilosauridae Rice p. 231 figs. Table 1 |
2002 | Dorudontidae Rice p. 231 figs. Table 1 |
2002 | Pontogeneus Sepkoski |
2002 | Dorudontinae Uhen p. 79 |
2002 | Pontogeneus Uhen p. 79 |
2002 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Uhen p. 79 |
2003 | Basilosauridae Fordyce p. 156 figs. Figure 9.1 |
2003 | Basilosauridae Geisler and Sanders p. 27 |
2004 | Basilosauridae Uhen pp. 11-12 |
2004 | Dorudontinae Uhen p. 12 |
2004 | Pontogeneus Uhen p. 12 |
2004 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Uhen p. 12 |
2004 | Basilosauridae van Vliet p. 143 |
2004 | Dorudontinae van Vliet p. 143 |
2004 | Pachycetus humilis van Vliet p. 143 |
2004 | Zygorhiza juddi van Vliet p. 143 |
2005 | Basilosauridae Gingerich p. 237 figs. Table 15.1 |
2006 | Basilosauridae Bouetel and Muizon p. 383 |
2006 | Dorudontinae Bouetel and Muizon p. 383 |
2007 | Basilosauridae Bianucci and Landini p. 45 figs. Table 2.1 |
2007 | Dorudontinae Bianucci and Landini p. 45 figs. Table 2.1 |
2007 | Basilosauridae Gingerich p. 366 |
2008 | Basilosauridae McLeod and Barnes p. 93 |
2008 | Dorudontinae McLeod and Barnes p. 93 |
2008 | Zygorhiza juddi McLeod and Barnes p. 93 |
2008 | Zygorhiza wanklyni McLeod and Barnes p. 93 |
2008 | Pontogeneus McLeod and Barnes p. 94 |
2008 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus McLeod and Barnes p. 94 |
2008 | Basilosauridae Uhen p. 561 |
2008 | Dorudontinae Uhen p. 561 |
2008 | Basilosauridae Uhen p. 592 figs. Figure 4 |
2009 | Basilosauridae Fordyce and Roberts p. 553 |
2009 | Dorudontinae Fordyce and Roberts p. 553 |
2009 | Basilosauridae Rice p. 235 figs. Table 1 |
2009 | Dorudontinae Uhen p. 93 |
2010 | Basilosauridae Fitzgerald p. 370 figs. Table 1 |
2010 | Basilosauridae Uhen p. 206 |
2011 | Basilosauridae Martinez-Cáceres and Muizon |
2011 | Pontogeneus Schouten p. 18 |
2011 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Schouten p. 18 |
2011 | Dorudontinae Uhen et al. p. 960 |
2011 | Basilosauridae Uhen et al. p. 966 figs. Figure 10 |
2012 | Basilosauridae Gingerich p. 313 figs. Figure 4 |
2012 | Basilosaurus wanklyni Kalmykov p. 179 |
2013 | Basilosauridae El-kheir et al. p. 462 |
2013 | Sulaimanitherium Malkani et al. p. 178 figs. Fig. 1 |
2013 | Sulaimanitherium dhanotri Malkani et al. p. 178 figs. Fig. 1 |
2013 | Basilosauridae Uhen |
2014 | Pontogeneus Cooper et al. p. 91 |
2014 | Basilosauridae Goldin et al. |
2015 | Basilosauridae Gao and Ni p. 156 figs. Table 1 |
2015 | Dorudontinae Gao and Ni p. 156 figs. Table 1 |
2015 | Basilosauridae Gingerich p. 164 |
2015 | Pontogeneus Gingerich p. 184 |
2015 | Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Gingerich p. 184 |
2015 | Pontogeneus priscus Gingerich p. 184 |
2015 | Basilosauridae Gingerich and Zouhri p. 278 |
2016 | Basilosauridae Buono et al. p. 299 |
2016 | Basilosauridae Marx et al. p. 101 |
2017 | Basilosauridae Berta p. 159 |
2017 | Pontogeneus Berta p. 159 |
2017 | Basilosauridae Martínez-Cáceres et al. p. 11 |
2019 | Basilosauridae Mahdy et al. |
2019 | Dorudontinae Mahdy et al. |
2019 | Sulaimanitherium Malkani p. 920 |
2019 | Sulaimanitherium dhanotri Malkani p. 920 |
2021 | Basilosauridae Smith et al. |
2022 | Basilosauridae Gingerich et al. p. 12 |
2023 | Basilosauridae Antar et al. p. 2 |
2023 | Basilosauridae Bianucci et al. |
2023 | Basilosauridae van Vliet et al. p. 7 |
2024 | Basilosauridae van Vliet et al. p. 6 |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
Fm. †Basilosauridae Cope 1867
show all | hide all
G. †Basilosaurus Harlan 1834
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†Basilosaurus cetoides Owen 1839
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Invalid names: Alabamornis gigantea Abel 1906 [synonym], Hydrarchos sillimani Wyman 1845 [synonym], Hydrargos sillimanii Koch 1845 [synonym], Zeuglodon ceti Wyman 1845 [synonym], Zeuglodon harlani De Kay 1842 [synonym], Zeuglodon macrospondylus Müller 1849 [synonym]
†Basilosaurus isis Andrews 1904
Invalid names: Alabamornis Abel 1906 [synonym], Basilosaurus puschi Brandt 1873 [nomen dubium], Hydrarchos Koch 1845 [synonym], Hydrarchus Muller 1849 [synonym], Hydrargos Koch 1845 [synonym], Zeuglodon Owen 1839 [objective synonym], Zugodon Scudder 1882 [synonym], Zygodon Owen 1839 [synonym]
G. †Chrysocetus Uhen and Gingerich 2001
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†Chrysocetus fouadassii Gingerich and Zouhri 2015
†Chrysocetus healyorum Uhen and Gingerich 2001
G. †Cynthiacetus Uhen 2005
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†Cynthiacetus maxwelli Uhen 2005
†Cynthiacetus peruvianus Martinez-Cáceres and Muizon 2011
G. †Dorudon Gibbes 1845
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†Dorudon atrox Andrews 1906
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Invalid names: Dorudon intermedius Dart 1923 [synonym], Dorudon stromeri Kellogg 1928 [synonym]
†Dorudon serratus Gibbes 1845
Invalid names: Prozeuglodon Andrews 1906 [synonym]
Subfm. †Pachycetinae Gingerich et al. 2022
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G. †Pachycetus Van Beneden 1883
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†Pachycetus paulsonii Brandt 1873
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Invalid names: Basilotritus uheni Goldin and Zvonok 2013 [synonym], Pachycetus robustus Van Beneden 1883 [synonym], Platyosphys einori Gritsenko 2001 [synonym], Zeuglodon rossicus Paulson in Brandt 1873 [synonym]
†Pachycetus wardii Uhen 1999
Invalid names: Basilotritus Goldin and Zvonok 2013 [synonym], Platyosphys Kellogg 1936 [synonym]
G. †Saghacetus Gingerich 1992
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†Saghacetus osiris Dames 1894
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Invalid names: Dorudon elliotsmithii Dart 1923 [synonym], Dorudon sensitivus Dart 1923 [synonym], Dorudon zitteli Stromer 1903 [synonym]
G. †Zygorhiza True 1908
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†Zygorhiza kochii Carus 1847
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Invalid names: Zeuglodon brachyspondylum Abel 1914 [synonym], Zeuglodon hydrarchus Carus 1849 [synonym], Zygorhiza brachyspondylus True 1908 [synonym], Zygorhiza minor True 1908 [synonym]
Invalid names: Balaenoptera juddi Seeley 1881 [nomen dubium], Dorudontinae Miller 1923 [invalid subgroup], Hydrarchidae Bonaparte 1850 [synonym], Hydrarchina Bonaparte 1850 [synonym], Pachycetus humilis Van Beneden 1883 [invalid subgroup], Pontogeneus Leidy 1852 [nomen dubium], Pontogeneus brachyspondylus Müller 1849 [nomen dubium], Prozeuglodontidae Moustafa 1954 [synonym], Stegorhinidae Brandt 1873 [synonym], Stromeriinae Gingerich 2007 [empty], Sulaimanitherium Malkani et al. 2013 [nomen dubium], Zeuglodontidae Bonaparte 1849 [synonym]
Diagnosis
Reference | Diagnosis | |
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M. D. Uhen 2004 | Members of the Basilosauridae lack M3 and sacral vertebrae.. Basilosaurids have accessory denticles on their adult premolars and molars and have a very reduced hindlimb. Members of the other families of archaeocetes, Protocetidae, Remingtonocetidae, and Ambulocetidae retain M3, have sacral vertebrae, and have large hind limbs. They also lack accessory denticles on their adult cheek teeth. | |
M. D. Uhen 2008 | Basilosauridae are distinguished from all other archaeocetes by: the loss of M3, the presence of multiple accessory denticles on the cheek teeth, loss of the sacrum, reduction of the hind limb, and rotation of the pelvis (Uhen, 1998a). | |
M. D. Uhen 2013 | Members of the family Basilo- sauridae possess two upper molars rather than the three typical of other archaeocetes, as well as multiple acces- sory denticles on their cheek teeth. Most basilosaurids also have longer bodies than other archaeocetes due to an increased numbers of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The thoracic vertebral count is 16 in Basilosaurus (Bebej et al., 2012), 20 in Cynthiacetus (Martínez-Cáceres and de Muizon, 2011), 17 in Dorudon (Uhen, 2004) and Zygorhiza (pers. obs. contra (Kellogg, 1936)). The complete thorac- ic count is unknown for Ancalecetus (probably 17, see Gin- gerich and Uhen, 1996 for discussion), Chrysocetus (at least 13), Masracetus, Ocucajea, Saghacetus (at least 15, pers. obs.). The thoracic vertebral count for Stromerius and Supayace- tus are unknown. The exception to this generalization is Basilotritus wardii, which has a thoracic vertebral count of 12 (Uhen, 2001), more similar to the thoracic count of protocetids than other basilosaurids (Uhen et al., 2011).
The lumbar vertebral count is 16 in Cynthiacetus (Martínez-Cáceres and de Muizon, 2011), 20 in Basilosau- rus (Gingerich et al., 1990) and Dorudon, (Uhen, 2004). The lumbar vertebral count is unknown for Basilotritus (Gol’din and Zvonok, 2013). All basilosaurids also have forelimbs modified into flippers. These forelimbs include: a fan shaped scapular blade; robust humerus, radius and ulna; elbow joints with limited rotation (which exclude the ability to pronate and supinate the forearm); and car- pal joints which also limit a wide range of motion. In basi- losaurids for which they are known (Basilosaurus (Lucas, 1900; Gingerich et al., 1990), Chrysocetus (Uhen and Gin- gerich, 2001), and Dorudon (Uhen, 2004)), the hindlimbs are greatly reduced and do not retain a bony connection to the vertebral column. The innominate of Basilotritus is not as reduced as those of other basilosaurids (see Uhen, 1999). See Uhen (1998, 2009) for thorough discussions of basilosaurid characteristics. | |
M. Martínez-Cáceres et al. 2017 | Basilosaurids are medium-to-large sized archaeocetes characterized principally by: 1) a at palate narrowing at the level of P4; 2) absence of M3; 3) anterior edge of the orbit dorsal to the level of P4 or P4/M1 diastema; 4) anterior process of the periotic strongly elliptical in cross-section; 5) triangular expan- sion on the posterolateral corner of the pars cochlearis; and 6) well developed ventrolateral tuberosity of the periotic. | |
P. D. Gingerich et al. 2022 | Basilosaurids are middle and late Eocene cetaceans that differ from earlier Pakicetidae, Ambu- locetidae, and Protocetidae in lacking upper third molars. They also differ in having well- developed pterygoid sinuses that separate left and right middle and inner ears acoustically, short cervical vertebrae, augmented numbers of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, forelimbs modified into flippers, and hind limbs reduced in size and no longer articulating with the ver- tebral column. Basilosaurids were the first whales to become fully aquatic.
Basilosaurids differ from later odontocetes and mysticetes in retaining a dental formula of 3.1.4.2 / 3.1.4.3 with recognizable upper and lower incisor, canine, premolar, and molar teeth. Skulls are not telescoped. There is no evidence of baleen. Basilosaurids retain forelimbs with a moveable elbow, and retain hind limbs with reduced but recognizable innominate, femur, tibia, fibula, ankle, and foot bones. Development of a tail fluke is questionable. |